o Do you have a favorite stop you’ve made along the way while traveling?
No – I don’t do superlatives and I love them all.
However, I do have many “favorites” that I’ll go out of my way to revisit every chance I get and for this post, I’ll narrow it down to one. An absolutely amazing experience I had while traveling from Key West to Nova Scotia for my book “Tin Can Travels” (which I hope to have published this year) was visiting the Bay Of Fundy while I was in the Canadian maritimes. They have the highest tides on earth! The water level rises and falls an average of 40 feet every single day. This is because the water is funneled into a narrow bay to create a phenomenon called “resonance” with ocean tides – resulting in much higher highs and lower lows. At low tide, the bay completely empties – what used to be covered in water is now dry land (or at least mudflats). And you can literally watch it fill back up again at high tide, it’s that profound of a shift and something everyone should see before they die!
o What are some fun, unique experiences you had in that place?
So many! Zip-lining at Cape Enrage, eating incredible lobster poutine and hiking the Fundy Trail with a naturalist and local historian are just a few of my wonderful experiences. I was also able to check out salmon beds, drink local blueberry wine, and eat reindeer lichen while hearing extremely colorful stories about the area’s history. Wandering around the sea caves in Bay View during low tide definitely stood out to me as well. I actually lost track of time and realized the tide was rushing back in so hard that I had to make a dash for it. I can go on with more great memories of tidal bore rafting on the Shubenacadie River, exploring the “flowerpot” formations of water wearing away at the base of a huge chunk of rock and checking out 300-million-year-old critters embedded in the walls at the Joggins Fossil Cliffs. If you are wanting a good scenic drive, I recommend driving the length of the Fundy Trail Parkway and stopping off for short hikes and scenic overlooks.
o What would you recommend to someone trying to visit that same location?
Make sure you hit both sides of the bay – New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The educational and recreational offerings are totally different in each area, and neither is to be missed. Oh, and pay attention to the tide – the water comes in so quickly, it’s easy to get stranded!
